National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 5, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On January 12, 2007, the President signed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, which requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of that Act, to amend the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) to authorize conversion of catcher vessel owner quota shares and processor quota shares to newly created North Region catcher/processor owner quota shares. Proposed Amendment 25 to the FMP would satisfy this requirement. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 2,201 nm\2\ (7,549 km\2\), east of Portsmouth, NH for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).